Coverage
- 43 Act provisions — sections 1–38 including 3A, 3B, 5A, 5B and 31A
- 18 Rule pages — rules 1–14 plus 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D
- 10 Schedule modules — trades, qualifications, contracts, staffing, obligations
- 15 practical guides — stipend, portal, degree apprenticeship, termination, state layer
Current legal status
Overlays the 11 September 2025 Rules amendment (G.S.R. 610(E)) and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 changes effective 22 June 2026 (advisory/warning definitions, substituted sections 30 and 31, new section 31A, omission of section 37(2)). The April 2026 MSDE portal order's 18% cap is flagged separately as an operational portal control, not a rewrite of the statutory Rule 7B(3) annual band (2.5%–15%, with the 5% fresher/skill-certificate reservation).
High-risk operational paths — full provision detail
Contract of apprenticeship
Formation, terms and registration. (Section 4)
Advisory/warning ladder
Operative from 22 June 2026. (Section 31A)
Engagement band
2.5%–15% annual band, 5% fresher reservation. (Rule 7B)
Degree apprenticeship
2025 change, revised stipend table. (Rule 7D)
Stipend matrix
Minimum monthly stipend by category, effective 11 Sep 2025.
Employer checklist
End-to-end control list, headcount to completion/exit.
Act sections (first 10 of 43)
| No. | Heading |
|---|---|
| 1 | Short title, extent, commencement and application |
| 2 | Definitions |
| 3 | Qualifications for being engaged as an apprentice |
| 3A | Reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes |
| 3B | Reservation for Other Backward Classes |
| 4 | Contract of apprenticeship |
| 5 | Novation of contract of apprenticeship |
| 5A | Regulation of optional trade |
| 5B | Engagement of apprentices from other States |
| 6 | Period of apprenticeship training |
Rules (first 10 of 18)
| No. | Heading |
|---|---|
| 1 | Short title and commencement |
| 2 | Definitions |
| 3 | Standard of education |
| 4 | Standard of physical fitness |
| 5 | Reservation of training places |
| 6 | Registration and terms of apprenticeship contract |
| 7 | Period of apprenticeship training |
| 7A | Regulation of optional trade |
| 7B | Number of apprentices for designated and optional trades |
| 7C | Inspection of establishment |
Practical guides
Applicability & thresholds
Jurisdiction, establishment strength, apprentice obligation.
Engagement band & portal cap
Statutory annual band vs. the 2026 portal operational control.
Contract registration
Section 4 + Rule 14 registration trail.
Designated vs optional trades
Correct legal route by curriculum and certification.
NAPS-2
Partial stipend-support scheme.
NATS 2.0
Graduate/diploma/vocational/degree apprenticeship portal journey.
Degree apprenticeship
2025 integrated-curriculum model.
Termination & novation
Exits without breaking compensation or portal rules.
Records & inspection
Single evidence pack for portal and inspection review.
Reservation & PwBD
SC/ST/OBC and PwBD reservation controls.
State & authority layer
Central/State jurisdiction and adviser resolution.
Stipend matrix (2025)
Current central minimum monthly stipend by category.
Common control failures
Questions and answers
Is this hub a substitute for the official law?
No. It is an explanation and control layer. The official Act, Rules, notifications and portal instructions govern.
Where is the full section-by-section and rule-by-rule text?
In the Act sections and Rules repository: full statutory text, current-law status, employer controls and examples for all 43 sections and 18 rules, plus 10 Schedule modules and 15 practical guides.
What date is the legal position based on?
Data reviewed on 17 July 2026, incorporating the Jan Vishwas amendments effective 22 June 2026.
Does the 18% portal cap replace Rule 7B(3)?
No. Rule 7B(3)'s statutory annual band is 2.5%–15% (including contractual staff, with a 5% fresher/skill-certificate reservation). The April 2026 order's 18% figure is an operational portal control, not a rewrite of the Rule.
Does NAPS/NATS scheme support replace the employer's stipend obligation?
No. Government scheme support is additional; it does not replace the employer's own statutory stipend obligation under the Act and Rules.
Are state overlays included?
The repository includes a state-and-authority layer guide. Exact State Apprenticeship Adviser notifications and portal behaviour must be verified for the establishment and date of use.
Primary-source ladder
- Current Apprentices Act text and 2026 amending/commencement instruments.
- Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 plus the 2025 Gazette amendment and subsequent official orders.
- MSDE NAPS-2 scheme page and Apprenticeship India portal.
- NATS 2.0 portal, BOAT/BOPT and applicable AICTE/UGC guidance.
- Central/State Apprenticeship Adviser notifications and State overlays.
Full repository index (deep-linked)
All 43 Act sections
Section 1: Short title, extent, commencement and application · Section 10: Related instruction of apprentices · Section 11: Obligations of employers · Section 12: Obligations of apprentices · Section 13: Payment to apprentices · Section 14: Health, safety and welfare of apprentices · Section 15: Hours of work, overtime, leave and holidays · Section 16: Employer liability for compensation for injury · Section 17: Conduct and discipline · Section 18: Apprentices are trainees and not workers · Section 19: Records and returns · Section 2: Definitions · Section 20: Settlement of disputes · Section 21: Tests, certificates and conclusion of training · Section 22: Offer and acceptance of employment · Section 23: Authorities · Section 24: Constitution of Councils · Section 25: Vacancies not to invalidate acts and proceedings · Section 26: Apprenticeship Advisers · Section 27: Deputy and Assistant Apprenticeship Advisers · Section 28: Apprenticeship Advisers to be public servants · Section 29: Powers of entry, inspection, examination and inquiry · Section 3: Qualifications for being engaged as an apprentice · Section 30: Offences and penalties · Section 31: Penalty where no specific penalty is provided · Section 31A: Adjudication of penalties · Section 32: Offences by companies · Section 33: Cognizance of offences · Section 34: Delegation of powers · Section 35: Construction of references · Section 36: Protection of action taken in good faith · Section 37: Power to make rules · Section 38: Repeal · Section 3A: Reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes · Section 3B: Reservation for Other Backward Classes · Section 4: Contract of apprenticeship · Section 5: Novation of contract of apprenticeship · Section 5A: Regulation of optional trade · Section 5B: Engagement of apprentices from other States · Section 6: Period of apprenticeship training · Section 7: Termination of apprenticeship contract · Section 8: Number of apprentices for a designated trade · Section 9: Practical and basic training of apprentices
All 18 Rules
Rule 1: Short title and commencement · Rule 10: Maintenance of record of work by apprentices · Rule 11: Payment of stipend to apprentices · Rule 12: Hours of work · Rule 13: Grant of leave to apprentices · Rule 14: Records, returns and contract registration · Rule 2: Definitions · Rule 3: Standard of education · Rule 4: Standard of physical fitness · Rule 5: Reservation of training places · Rule 6: Registration and terms of apprenticeship contract · Rule 7: Period of apprenticeship training · Rule 7A: Regulation of optional trade · Rule 7B: Number of apprentices for designated and optional trades · Rule 7C: Inspection of establishment · Rule 7D: Minimum gap between trainings · Rule 8: Compensation for termination of apprenticeship · Rule 9: Qualifications of persons in charge of training
All 10 Schedules
Schedules index · Schedule I · Schedule IA · Schedule IB · Schedule II · Schedule IIA · Schedule III · Schedule IV · Schedule IVA · Schedule V · Schedule VI
All 15 guides
Amendment and operational tracker · Applicability and establishment thresholds · Basic training and on-the-job training · Contract registration and portal workflow · Degree apprenticeship · Designated trades vs optional trades · Employer compliance checklist · Engagement band and 18% portal cap · NAPS-2 practical guide · NATS 2.0 practical guide · Records, returns and inspection · Reservation and persons with benchmark disabilities · State and authority layer · Minimum stipend matrix effective 11 September 2025 · Termination, novation and Rule 7D gap controls